Purpose, Commitment and Creativity

Dr. Moran shares how young people and educators can think about abilities and interests not as ends in themselves, but rather as tools to be cultivated and committed toward specific purposes. Finding and following one's purpose stems from knowing oneself and understanding how one can contribute to others and the wider world. The most striking contribution a person can make is creative – sharing a product or service with others that ultimately transforms the community and the way people think. Recent research suggests that people from non-mainstream backgrounds are highly likely to contribute creatively because they bring new ways of thinking. By using purpose as a beacon to steer by, young people and educators can make decisions about how and why to develop and commit resources toward fostering creative contributions.